Combination lock



United States Patent 3,330,140 COMBINATION LOCK Fred J. Russell, 8635 Otis St., South Gate, Calif. 94704, and George B. Solovieif, San Clemente, Calif.; said Solovielf assignor to said Russell Filed Nov. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 408,430 9 Claims. (Cl. 70-156) This invention relates in general to combination locks and, more particularly, to a spring latch mechanism combined with a combination lock.

Heretofore, such mechanisms have lacked the mechanical solidity and positiveness of action required for smooth and positive operation and durability over a relatively long period of time. Furthermore, such latch mechanisms incorporating locking devices of various kinds have heretofore been excessively complicated, and they have been time consuming and expensive to manufacture.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a latch mechanism employing a mechanism which has improved working characteristics and increased durability.

It is another object of this invention to furnish a latch mechanism which is of simplified construction and less costly to manufacture.

It is another object of this invention to provide a spring latch mechanism combined with a combination lock.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a latch mechanism and a combination lock and latch actuating means of improved design, operating characteristics, and durability.

These and other objects, advantages, and features of novelty will be evident hereinafter.

In the drawings, which illustrate a presently preferred embodiment of the invention and in which similar reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of the latch assembly with the front cover plate and combination dial thereof removed, exposing the internal parts to view, such View corresponding to that taken on line 11 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 2 is a side view, partly in elevation and partly in section, and corresponding to that taken on line 2-2 of FIGUREI;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom view, partly in elevation and partly in section, and corresponding to that taken on line 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary, detailed view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of a portion of the mechanism shown in FIGURE 1, illustrating an initial stage in the operation of the apparatus;

FIGURE 5 is a view of the same mechanism shown in FIGURE 1, illustrating a first intermediate stage in the operation of the apparatus; and

FIGURE 6 is a View of the same apparatus shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, illustrating a second intermediate stage in the operation of the apparatus.

Referring first primarily to FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, 10 is a hollow rectangular sheet metal case in which the latch mechanism is contained, such case having preferably integrally formed opposite side walls 12 and 14, top and bottom walls 16 and 18, a rear wall 20, and a detachable front cover plate 22. The cover plate 22 is retained in place by means of a retainer screw 24, which passes through a hole 26 therein and threads into the forward end of a crosswise extending pillar 28. The rearward end of the pillar 23 is attached to the back Wall by means of a reduced diameter ferrule portion which extends through a hole in the back wall 20 and is spun or crimped over at the outer end, as shown at 30.

Horizontally slidably mounted within the metal case ice 10 is a spring latch bolt assembly shown generally at 32, such latch bolt assembly comprising a generally rectangular cross-sectioned, laterally extending latch bolt 34, and an inner, integrally formed, rectangular latch yoke member 36 of slightly greater length and width than the latch bolt 34. The side wall 12 of the case 10 is provided with a rectangular opening 50 through which the latch bolt 34 slidably extends and through which it may be moved between an extended position as shown in FIGURE 1 and a retracted position as shown in FIGURE 6. Formed through the latch yoke member 36, adjacent the upper and lower ends thereof, are bore holes into which are press fitted tubular shank portions of reduced outside diameter 38 and 40, respectively, of a pair of coaxial guide bushings 42 and 44. Extending horizontally and supported lengthwise of the latch case 10 between the side walls 12 and 14 thereof, are a pair of parallel, vertically spaced-apart latch bolt guide rods 46 and 48 which extend through the guide bushings 42 and 44 and upon which the latch yoke member 36 and latch bolt 34, are horizontally slidably supported, such that the latch bolt 34 may be moved horizontally between the aforesaid extended and retracted positions relative to the opening 50 through the side wall 12 of the case 10.

A helical spring 52 is carried on the upper latch bolt guide rod 46 and acts under compression between the inside surface of the Wall 14 and the inner end of the' guide bushing 42, constantly to urge the latch bolt assembly 32 in a left-hand direction as viewed in FIGURES 1 and 3, and thus, normally maintains the latch bolt 34 in its most fully extended position as shown in FIGURES 1 and 3. In operation, the before-described construction of the latch bolt assembly 32 and associated latch bolt guide mechanism results in improved positiveness of action by providing directionally rigid, relatively low frictional movement thereof under the transverse latch actuating and operating forces to which it is subjected.

Reference is next made to the latch operating and' locking mechanism shown generally at 56 within the case 10. Included in such latch operating and locking mechanism, and extending crosswise of aproximately the central portion of the latch case 10 between the rear wall 20 and cover plate 22 thereof, is a central, stationary bearing shaft 58. The bearing shaft 58 is fixed to the back wall 28 of the case 10 by means of a shouldered, rivetedover rear end attachment arrangement as shown at 60. The front end portion 64 of the shaft 58 extends to the exterior of the case 10 through a central opening 62 in the cover plate 22, a sufiicient distance to act as a means for rotatably supporting a concentric, tubular drive shaft 68, upon the outer end portion of which is fixed a gradu ated combination actuating dial 66. The tubular drive shaft 68 extends into the case 10 through the annular space between the beforementioned opening 62 in the cover plate 22, and the exterior of the bearing shaft 58 and carries, integrally formed on its inner end, a first combination disc 70. Rotatably carried on an intermediate portion of the bearing shaft 58, coaxial with the first combination disc 70, is a second combination disc 72, spaced axially from the first combination disc 70 by means of an intermediate annular spacer 74, which is preferably fixed nonrotatably to the bearing shaft 58 by suitable means such as a radial drive pin 54.

Also, pivotably and radially slidably supported upon the bearing shaft 58, adjacent the inner side of the second combination disc 72, is an L-shaped, slide clutch lever 76. A spacer washer 79 is also provided on the bearing shaft 58 between the clutch lever 76 and the inner face of the rear wall 20 of the case 10. The beforementioned pivotable and radially slidable movement of the clutch lever 76 is made possible by a longitudinally extending slot 78 3 formed in the intermediate portion of the clutch lever 76 through which shaft 58 extends, the width of the slot 78 being approximately equal to the outside diameter of the bearing shaft 58, and the length of the slot longitudinally of the clutch lever 76 being substantially greater than the outside diameter of the bearing shaft 58. The clutch lever 76 is formed at the lower end thereof, as best shown in FIGURE 2, with a laterally extending, relatively narrow clutch dog 80. The clutch dog 80 extends crosswise of and in position to bear upon the peripheries of the first and second combination discs 70 and 72, and by radial sliding movement of the clutch lever 76 on the bearing shaft 58, cooperates with the combination discs 70 and 72 to effect actuation of the latch and locking device, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

Fixed to the upper end of the clutch lever 76, as best viewed in FIGURE 2, is a crank pin 82 which extends laterally through and relatively loosely engages a vertically elongated slot 84 formed adjacent the inner, righthand portion of a rigid horizontal drive link member. The left-hand end of the drive link member 86 is attached to the upper end portion of the latch yoke member 36, by means of an angular leg portion 88 thereof which is clamped between the inner face of the latch yoke member 36 and the left-hand facing shoulder formed at the junction of the shank portion 38 of the upper guide bushing 42. Horizontal sliding movement of the drive link member 86 and latch bolt assembly 32 is thus adapted to be effected by the crank pin 82 upon imparting pivotable movement to the clutch lever 76 about the bearing shaft 58.

'Located in the lower right-hand corner portion of the latch case is an L-shaped pawl member 90, having a substantially horizontally directed leg 92 and a substantially vertically directed leg 94. The vertically directed leg 94 of the pawl member 90 is provided with an intermediate opening 96 therethrough which loosely encircles the lower guide rod 48 to permit limited sliding movement of the pawl member 90 axially of the guide rod 48,

' and limited pivotal movement thereof about the lower end 98 of the vertically directed leg 94 which is normally pivotally lodged in the lower, right-hand corner of the case 10. A helical spring 100 encircles the guide rod 48 and acts under compression between the inner surface of the vertical leg 94 of the pawl member 90 and a snapring 102 retained in a suitable ring groove formed in an intermediate portion of the guide rod 48, to constantly urge the pawl member 90 to pivot in a clockwise direction about the said lower end 98 of the vertical leg 94. The outer end portion of the horizontal leg 92 of the pawl member 90 is thus urged to swing upwardly about the lower end 98 as a center, into forceful contact either with V the lower surface of the clutch dog 80, as shown in FIG- URES l and 4, or into sliding contact with the peripheries of the combination discs 70 and 72, as shown in FIGURE 6, in diflerent stages of operation of the apparatus, as

will be hereinafter more fully described in connection with the operation.

Pivotably supported upon an intermediate portion of the beforementioned pillar 28within the case 10, is an L-shaped clutch release lever 104. The clutch release lever 104 is formed at the lower end thereof with a horizontal,

crosswise extending leg portion 106. The leg portion 106 5 pawl member 90 is in the positions shown in FIGURES 5 and 6. Under the latter conditions, the clutch release lever 104 is subjected to a resilient restraining force tending to resist its rotation in a clockwise direction about pillar 28. The right-hand edge of the leg 106, by contact- 4 ing the inside adjacent surface of the wall 14, serves to limit the counterclockwise pivotal movement of the clutch release lever 104 which would thereby result to that shown in FIGURES 1 and 4. The upper end portion of the clutch release lever 104 is formed with a laterally extending, hook-shaped cam portion, as shown at 110, having on its lower side a sloping cam surface 112 terminating at its right-hand end as received in FIGURES 1, 4 and 5, in a downwardly facing, semicircular notch 114, such cam surface 112 and notch 114 being adapted to engage the beforementioned crank pin 82 of the clutch lever 76 under certain operating conditions, such as illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6. a

Each of the combinations discs 70 and 72 is formed with a single, generally rectangular, radially inwardly extending notch or gate slot as best shown at 116 and 118, respectively, in FIGURE 1. Such gate slots 116 and 118 are of such size and shape as to permit entrance thereinto and clutching engagement therewith of the clutch dog when the gate slots 116 and 118 are brought into simultaneous axial alignment with the clutch dog as illustrated in FIGURE 4. Each of the combination discs 70 and 72 is also provided with an axially,crosswise-extending drive pin, as shown at 120 and 122, respectively, such driver pin being on circles of equal diameter, or in other words, positioned in the combination discs 70 and 72 at.

equal radial distances from the center of the bearing shaft 58 such that, upon rotation of the combination discs 70 and 72 relative to one another upon bearing shaft 58, the drive pins 120 and 122 will move into driving engagement with one another. The angular separation of the drive pin 120 and the gate slot 116 of the first combination disc 70 and also the angular separation of the drive pin 122 and the gateslot 118 of the second combination disc 72, may be made to have any desired values, depending upon the lock combination which is thereby desired to be determined.

For the sake of simplification and convenience of description, the combination lock portion of the apparatus of this invention has been shown and described as having only two sets of combination discs such as shown at ,70

and 72. However, such combination lock device is not necessarily limited tottwo sets of combination discs but may have any greater number of similarly interacting combination discs, depending upon the degree of security desired in the resultant lock combination.

The latch case 10 is provided with a pair of oppositely.

extending attachment ears as shown at 124. and 126 provided with screw holes 128 and 130 by means of which the ing the latch bolt 34, latch yoke member 36, guidebushings 42 and 44 and drive link 86, is free to slide inwardly on the guide rods 46 and 48 against the opposing force of the spring 52, without actuation of any of the associated elementsof the locking apparatus. Thus, upon movement of the latch as a result'of swinging the door or the like member to which it is attached, such as to bring the beveled end surface 35 of the latch bolt 34 into engagement with a latch detent fitting, the latch bolt 34 freely retracts through opening 50 in the case wall 12'sufliciently to make locking engagement. with the latch detent, at

which time the latch bolt assembly 32. automatically re-,

turns, under the forceof spring 52, .to the original, extended position illustrated in FIGURE 1. Upon such return of the latch bolt assembly 32 to its extended position,

it is locked in such position and cannot be released without actuation of the combination lock mechanism in accordance with the predetermined combination.

When it is desired to unlock the latch, rotation of the actuating dial 66 will produce no unlocking action upon the latch bolt assembly 32 until it is rotated in accordance with the predetermined combination, such that the drive pins 120 and 122 are brought into engagement with one another in proper directions and sequence, as is well known in the combination lock art, to rotationally move the combination discs 70 and 72 on the bearing shaft 58 to such positions as to bring the gate slots 116 and 118 thereof into simultaneous axial alignment with one another immediately above and in alignment with the clutch dog 80. Upon so positioning the gate slots 116 and 118, the clutch dog 80 under the upward force applied to it by the horizontal leg 92 of the pawl member 90 under the force of spring 100 will move upwardly from the disengaged position shown in FIGURE 1, to the engaged position shown in FIGURE 4, in which the clutch dog 80 has entered the gate slots 116 and 118, thus, coupling the combination discs 70 and 72 and the clutch lever 76, together nonrotationally relative to one another, whereby rotational movement of the actuating dial 66 imparts rotational movement to the clutch lever 76 about bearing shaft 58. Upon imparting clockwise rotational movement to the actuating dial 66 under the latter condition, the clutch lever 76 is thereby pivoted in a clockwise direction, carrying the crank pin 82 into contact with the righthand side of a slot 84 in the drive link member 86, such as to impart horizontal movement to the drive link member 36 in a right-hand direction against the opposing force of spring 52, from the position shown in FIGURE 4 through the position shown in FIGURE 5 to the position shown in FIGURE 6, thereby correspondingly moving the latch yoke member 36 in a right-hand direction and retracting the latch bolt 34 from locking engagement with its latch detent.

As the slide clutch lever 76 is pivoted in the beforementioned clockwise direct-ion from the position shown in FIGURE 4 to the position shown in FIGURE 5, the crank pin 82 is also brought into engagement with the cam surface 112 on the outer cam end portion 110 of the clutch release lever 104, thereby forcing the clutch release lever 104 to pivot about the pillar 28 in a clockwise direction through a small angle as shown in FIG- URE 5 sufiicient to permit the crank pin 82 to enter and lodge in the semicircular notch 114 as shown FIGURE 6. Such pivotal movement of the release lever 104 is opposed by the beforementioned force applied from the spring 100 which acts through the pawl member 90 and the tab 108 against the left-hand edge of the leg 106 of the release lever 104, which meanwhile depresses the horizontal leg 92 of the pawl member from engagement with both the clutch dog 80 and the periphery of the combination discs 70 and 72, as shown in FIGURE 5. A downward force is thus applied to the crank pin 82 and therethrough to the clutch lever 76, but such force is only momentary while crank pin 82 is moving along the cam surface 112, before the crank pin 82 lodges in the notch 114. Such force tends to slide the clutch lever 76 downwardly to disengage the clutch dog 80 from the gate slots 116 and 118. However, during such clockwise rotation of the actuating dial 66 and the combination discs 70 and 72 coupled thereto to move the latch bolt 34 toward the retracted positions shown in FIGURES and 6, against the force of spring 52, sufiicient frictional force exists between the clutch dog 80 and the inner engaging surface of the gate slot 116 to prevent the clutch lever 76 from sliding downwardly under such momentary force and thereby prematurely disengaging the clutch dog 80 from the gate slots 116 and 118. Upon release of the rotational force upon the actuating dial 66, however, the immediately following resultant reverse rotational movement of the clutch lever 76 and crank pin 82 under the force of spring 52 moves the crank pin 82 into engagement with the left-hand side of the notch 114, which in turn forces the crank pin 82 to move downwardly in order to escape from the notch 114. Such downward movement of the crank pin 82 is transferred to and immediately forces the clutch lever 76 to slide downwardly, carrying the clutch dog 80 out of engagement with the gate slots 116 and 118. At this latter stage in the operation of the mechanism, the tab 108 of the pawl member bears on the leg 106 of the release lever 104 with sufficient force to prevent the release lever 104 from pivoting in a clockwise direction during the escape of the crank pin 82 from the semicircular notch 114, as aforesaid, thereby forcing the crank pin 82 to move downwardly to impart the downward disengaging sliding movement to the clutch lever 76.

Upon release of the rotational force upon the actuating dial 66 and the resultant disengagement of the clutch dog 80 from the gate slots 116 and 118 of the combination discs 70 and 72, as before described, the latch bolt assembly 32 is immediately free to snap back to its fully extended position under the force of spring 52, thereby pivoting the clutch lever 76 back to its original position shown in FIGURE 1. Under this latter condition, the gate slots 116 and 118 will not necessarily occupy the positions illustrated in FIGURE 1, but will have been rotationally displaced relative to one another, to some other random positions, at which the lock will be rendered inoperable by the actuating dial 66 until the actuating dial 66 is again manipulated in accordance with the predetermined combination, again to align the gate slots 116 and 118 in proper position to be engaged by the clutch dog 80.

It is to be understood that the foregoing is illustrative only, and that the invention is not limited thereby but includes all modifications thereof within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a latch mechanism having a case and a latch bolt mounted for sliding movement between extended and retracted positions relative to said case, apparatus comprising:

a pair of guide members extending across and fixed at opposite ends thereof within the interior of said case in parallel, laterally spaced-apart positions, relative to one another;

a yoke member attached to and extending laterally of opposite sides of the inner end of said latch bolt within said case;

and a pair of guide bushings fixed to said yoke member, one each of said guide bushings being positioned adjacent each opposite end portion of said yoke member adjacent said opposite sides of said inner end of said latch bolt and being slidably supported upon said guide members, whereby the said yoke member and said latch bolt are guidedly supported for said sliding movement between said extended and retracted positions and resilient means positioned on at least one of said guide members and acting between an inner end of the guide bushing on said one guide member and an inner surface of said case to urge said yoke member and said latch bolt into the extended position.

2. In a latch mechanism having a case and a latch bolt mounted for sliding movement between extended and retracted positions relative to said, apparatus comprising:

a pair of guide members extending across and fixed to the interior of said case in parallel, laterally spacedapart positions, relative to one another;

a crosswise extending yoke member attached to the inner end of said latch bolt within said case;

a pair of guide bushings fixed to said yoke member, in

laterally spaced-apart positions relative to one another, one each of said guide bushings being positioned adjacent each opposite end of said yoke member and being slidably supported upon said guide members, whereby said yoke member and said latch bolt are guidely supported for said sliding movement a shaft mounted in said case for rotation about an axis transverse to the axis of said guide members;

a crank member carried on said shaft within said case for angular rotational movement by said shaft in a plane parallel with the longitudinal axis of said guide members;

and a pivot connection between an outer portion of said crank member and said drive link,

whereby angular rotational movement of said shaft between angular limits imparts corresponding movement to said latch bolt between said extended and retracted positions.

In a latch mechanism having a case and a latch bolt mounted for sliding movement between extended and retracted positions relative to said case, apparatus comprising:

a pair of guide members extending across and fixed to the interior of said case in parallel, laterally spacedapart positions, relative to one another;

crosswise extending yoke member attached to the inner end of said latch bolt within said case;

a pair of guide bush'mgs fixed to said yoke member in laterally spaced-apart positions relative to one another, one of each of said guide bushings being positioned adjacent each opposite end of said yoke mem her and being slidably supported upon said guide members, whereby said yoke member and said latch bolt are guidely supported for said sliding movement parallel with said guide members between said extended and retracted positions;

rotational axis; resilient means constantly applying a force to said latch bolt toward a fully extended position,

pivot connecting means pivotally connecting said slide lever adjacent an outer end portion thereof with said drive link, said connection means including means permitting limited freedom for said radial sliding movement of said slide lever;

clutch dog :fixed to and extending laterally of said slide lever in position to make riding contact with the peripheries of said combinationrdiscs and engage said gate slots therein;

means operative when said slide lever is in a rotational position corresponding to an extended position of said latch bolt and drive link, for applying a force urging said slide lever to slide radially thereof in a first direction such as to maintain said clutch dog in such riding contact with the peripheries of said combination discs and to urge said clutch dog into engagement with said gate slots when said gate slots are in simultaneous alignment with said clutch dog;

whereby, upon effecting simultaneous axial alignment of said gate slots in juxtaposition with said clutch dog by said manipulative rotation of said combination discs, said clutch dog is forced into engagement with said gate slots, thereby rotationally coupling said slide lever and combination discs together such that subsequent rotational movement of said locking discs imparts corresponding rotational movement to said slide lever about said rotational axis, which in turn imparts, through said pivot connecting means, longi- 8 tudinal sliding movement to said drive link in a direction to retract said latch bolt;

and means actuated by rotation of said combination discs together with said slide lever through a predetermined rotational angle in a direction to retract said latch bolt, when said clutch dog is in engagement with said gate slots, to move said slide lever radially thereof in a direction opposite to said first direction to disengage saidclutch dog from said gate slots, thereby to uncouple said slide lever and combination discs from one another,

thereby permitting said latch bolt to return to its fully extended position under the said force applied thereto. 4. In a lock mechanism having a case, a latch bolt guidedly mounted therein and movable between locked and unlocked positions, apparatus comprising:

a combination lock mechanism in said case having at least two separate combination discs mounted for separate coaxial manipulative rotation, said discs each having an outwardly facing gate means formed on the periphery thereof;

a lever mounted in said case for rotational movement thereof about a rotational axis therein;

connecting means pivotally connecting said lever adjacent an outer end portion thereof with said latch bolt whereby said latch bolt is positioned in extended and retracted positions in accordance with the rotational position of said lever; V

a clutch dog operatively coupled to said lever and movably positioned to be movable into riding contact with adjacent peripheries of said combination discs, said clutch dog being shaped to engage said gate means thereon;

means operative when said lever is in a rotational position corresponding to an extended position'of said latch bolt for applying a force urging said clutch dog into such riding contact with the peripheries of said combination discs and to move said clutch dog into engagement with said gate means when said gate means are in simultaneous alignment with said clutch s;

whereby, upon effecting simultaneous axial alignment of said gate means in juxtaposition with said clutch dog as aforesaid by said manipulative rotation of said combination discs, said clutch dog moves into clutching engagrnent with said gate means, thereby rotationally coupling said clutch dog and combination discs together such that subsequent rotational movement of said locking discs imparts corresponding movement to said clutch dog, which in turn imparts rotational movement to said lever about said rotational axis, thereby enablingmovement of said latch bolt to locked or unlocked position.

5. ,In a lock mechanism having a case, a latch bolt guidedly mounted thereinand movable between locked and unlocked positions, apparatus comprising:

a a combination lock mechanism in said case having at least two separate combination disc mounted for separate combination disc mounted for separate manipulative rotation coaxially of each other, said disc each having a gate means on the periphery thereof; 7

a lever in said case mounted for rotational movement a drive link within said case, attached to said latch bolt for longitudinal sliding movement thereof together with said longitudinal sliding movement of said latch cordance with said extended and retracted positions of said latch bolt;

a clutch dog operatively connected to' said lever and movably positioned such as to be movable into riding contact with adjacent peripheries of said combination disc, said clutch dog being shaped to engage said gate means thereon;

and means operative when said lever is in a rotational position corresponding to an extended position of said latch bolt and drive link to urge said clutch dog into such riding contact upon the peripheries of said combination disc and to move said clutch dog into engagement with said gate means when said gate means are in registry with said clutch dog,

whereby, upon effecting simultaneous axial alignment of said gate means in juxtaposition with said clutch dog by manipulative rotation of said combination discs, said clutch dog moves into clutching engagement with said gate means, thereby coupling said clutch dog and combination discs together, whereby subsequent rotational movement of said locking discs imparts corresponding movement to said clutch dogs and thence to said lever about said rotational axis, which in turn imparts longitudinal sliding movement to said drive link and enables movement of said latch bolt to locked or unlocked position.

6. In a lock mechanism having a case, a latch bolt guidedly mounted therein and movable between locked and unlocked positons, apparatus comprising:

a combination lock mechanism in said case having at least two separate combination discs mounted for separate manipulative rotation about a common rotational axis, said discs each having radially outwardly facing gate slot in the periphery thereof;

a slide lever in said case mounted for combined rotational movement thereof axially about, and limited radial sliding movement lengthwise thereof, relative to said common rotational axis;

a drive link Within said case, attached to said latch bolt for movement thereof together with said longitudinal sliding movement of said latch bolt;

connecting means pivotally connecting said slide lever adjacent an outer end portion hereof with said drive link, said connection means including means permitting limited freedom for said radial sliding movemen of said slide lever;

a clutch dog fixed to and extending laterally of said slide lever in position to make riding contact upon the peripheries of said combination discs and engage said gate slots therein;

and resilient means urging such sliding movement of said slide lever such as normally to maintain said clutch dog in such riding contact upon the peripheries of said combination discs and to move said clutch dog into clutching engagement with said gate slots when said gate slots are in registry with said clutch whereby, upon effecting simultaneous axial alignment of said gate slots in juxtaposition with said clutch dog by manipulative rotation of said combination discs, said clutch dog moves into clutching engagement with said gate slots, thereby ratationaliy coupling said slide lever and combination discs together, whereby subsequent rotational movement of said locking discs imparts corresponding rotational movement to said slide lever about said rotational axis, which in turn imparts movement to said drive link and enables movement of said latch bolt to locked or unlocked position.

7. In a lock mechanism having a case, a latch bolt guidedly mounted therein and movable between locked and unlocked positions, apparatus comprising:

a combination lock mechanism in said case having at least two separate combination discs mounted for separate manipulative rotation about a common rotational axis, said discs each having a radially outwardly facing gate slot in the periphery thereof;

a slide lever in said case mounted for combined rotational movement thereof coaxially about, and limited 10 radial sliding movement thereof relative to said common rotational axis;

a drive link within said case, attached to an inner portion of said latch bolt, for longitudinal sliding movement thereof together with said longitudinal sliding movement of said latch bolt;

connecting means pivotally connecting said slide lever adjacent an outer end portion thereof with said drive link, said connection means including means permitting limited freedom for said radial sliding movement lengthwise of said slide lever;

a clutch dog fixed to and extending late-rally of said slide lever in position to make riding contact upon the peripheries of said combination disc and engage said gate slots therein when said gate slots are in registry with said clutch dog;

means operative, when said slide lever is in a rotational position corresponding to an extended position of said latch bolt and drive link, for applying a force urging said slide lever to slide radially in a first direction to maintain said clutch dog in such riding contact upon the peripheries of said combination discs and to urge said clutch dog into engagement with said gate slots when said gate slots are in alignment with said clutch whereby, upon effecting simiultaneous axial alignment of said gate slots in juxtaposition with said clutch dog by said manipulative rotation of said combination discs, said clutch dog is forced into clutching engagement with said gate slots, thereby rotationally coupling said slide lever and combination discs together such that subsequent rotational movement of said locking discs imparts corresponding rotational movement to said slide lever about said rotational axis, which in turn imparts, through said connecting means, movement to said drive link and said latch bolt;

and means actuated by rotation of said combination discs together with said slide lever through a predetermined rotational angle in a direction to retract said latch bolt, when said clutch dog is in clutching engagement with said gate slots, to urge said slide lever to move radially in a direction opposite to said first direction to disengagement said clutch dog from said gate notches, thereby to uncouple said slide lever and combination discs from one another.

8. In a lock mechanism having a case, a latch bolt guidedly mounted therein and movable between locked and unlocked positions, apparatus comprising:

a combination lock mechanism in said case having at least two separate combination discs mounted for separate manipulative rotation about a common rotational axis, said discs each having a radially outwardly facing gate slot in the periphery thereof;

a slide lever in said case mounted for combined rotational movement thereof coaxially about, and limited radial sliding movement lengthwise thereof relative to said common rotational axis;

a drive link within said case, attached to an inner portion of said latch bolt, for movement thereof together with said longitudinal sliding movement of said latch bolt;

resilient means constantly applying an extending force to said latch bolt urging it toward a fully extended position;

connecting means pivotally connecting said slide lever adjacent an outer end portion thereof with said drive link, said connecting means including means permit ting limited freedom for said sliding movement lengthwise of said slide lever;

a clutch dog fixed to and extending laterally to said slide lever in position to make riding contact upon the peripheries of said combination discs and clutchmgly engage said gate slots therein when said gate (silots are in simultaneous alignment with said clutch 1 l 7 means operative when said slide lever is in a rotational position corresponding to an extended position of said latch bolt for applying a force urging said slide lever lengthwise thereof in a first direction such as normally to maintain said clutch dog in such riding contact upon the peripheries of said combination discs and to urge said clutch dog into engagement with said gate slots as aforesaid; whereby, upon effecting simultaneous axial alignment of said gate slots in juxtaposition with said clutch dog by said manipulative rotation of said combination discs, said clutch dog is forced into clutching engagement with said gate slots, thereby rotationally coupling said slide lever and combination discs to gether, whereby subsequent rotational movement of said locking discs imparts corresponding rotational movement to said slide lever about said rotational axis, which in turn imparts, through said connecting means, movement to said drive link in a direction to retract said latch bolt; and means actuated by rotation of said combination discs, together with said slide lever, through a predetermined rotational angle in a direction to retract said latch bolt, when said clutch dog is in .clutching engagement with said gate slots, to urge said slide lever to move in a direction opposite to said first direction, to disengage said clutch dog from said gate notches, thereby to uncouple said slide leverand combination discs from one another, thereby enabling movement of said latch bolt to locked or unlocked position. 9. In a lock mechanism having a case, a latch bolt guidedly mounted therein and movable between locked and unlocked positions, apparatus comprising:

a combination lock mechanism in said case having at least two separate combination discs mounted for separate, independent manipulative rotation upon a common shaft, said discs each having a gate means formed in the periphery thereof;

a slide lever in said case mounted for combined rotational movement and limited radial sliding move ment thereof upon said shaft;

a drive link withinsaid case, attached at one end to said latch bolt, for movement thereof together with said longitudinal sliding movement of said latch bolt;

resilient means acting between said latch bolt and said case constantly applying an extending force to said latch bolt urging it toward a fully extended position;

a pivot pin pivotally connecting said slide lever adjacent an outer end portion thereof with said drive link;

a clutch dog fixed to and extending laterally of said slide lever in position to making sliding, riding contact upon'the peripheries of said combination discs and engage said gate means therein;

a pawl means pivotally mounted in said case and pivotable into bearing contact with said clutch dog;

means operative when said slide lever is in a rotational position corresponding to an extended position of said latch bolt and drive link for applying a force to said pawl means urging said pawl means into con tact with said clutch dog with sufiicient forcethen to slide said lever radially to maintain said clutch dog in such sliding contact upon the peripheries of said combination discs and to urge said clutch dog into engagement with said gate means,

whereby, upon eifecting" simultaneous axial alignment of said gate means in juxtaposition with said clutch dog by said manipulative rotation of said combination discs, said clutch dog is forced by said pawl into engagement with said gate means, thereby rotationally coupling said slide lever and combination discs together, whereby subsequent rotational movement of said locking discs imparts corresponding rotational movement to said slide lever about said rotational.

axis, which in turn imparts, through said pivot pin, movement to said drive link in a direction to retract said latch bolt;

and means included in said pawl means and clutch dog actuated upon rotation of said combination discs through a predetermined rotational angle in a direction to retract said latch bolt, when said clutch dog is in engagement with said gate means, to remove said pawl means from such contact with said clutch dog, thereby to move said force to permit said slide lever to move lengthwise thereof in a direction to disengage said clutch dog from said gate means, thereby to uncouple said slide lever and combination discs from one another,

thereby enabling movement of said latchbolt to locked or unlocked position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 876,550 1/1908 Hofheinz 292-361 1,529,353 3/1925 Hall a -156 X 1,863,537 6/1932 Aster 70-303 2,343,249 3/ 1944 Spinello 292-169X 2,601,774 7/1952 Behrens et a1. 70-133 2,660,873 12/1953 Bennett et al 70322 X 3,176,486 4/1965 Richardson 70-303 FOREIGN PATENTS 201,738 5/ 1956 Australia.

27,621 11/ 1908 Great Britain.

BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,330,140 July 11, 1967 Fred J. Russell et al.

It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 6, line 62, after "said" insert case Column 8, line 58, "disc" should read discs lines 58 and 59, cancel "mounted for separate combination disc"; line 62, after "movement" insert thereof about a rotational axis therein Column 9, line 7, "disc" should read discs line 28, after "having" insert a line 31, "axially" should read coaxially line 38, "hereof" should read thereof line 41, "men" should read ment Column 10, line 14, "disc" should read discs line 43, "disengagement" should read disengage line 70, "to" should read of Column 12, line 32, "move" should read remove Signed and sealed this 25th day of November 1969.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER, JR. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR. Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

2. IN A LATCH MECHANISM HAVING A CASE AND A LATCH BOLT MOUNTED FOR SLIDING MOVEMENT BETWEEN EXTENDED AND RETRACTED POSITIONS RELATIVE TO SAID, APPARATUS COMPRISING: A PAIR OF GUIDE MEMBERS EXTENDING ACROSS AND FIXED TO THE INTERIOR OF SAID CASE IN PARALLEL, LATERALLY SPACEDAPART POSITIONS, RELATIVE TO ONE ANOTHER; A CROSSWISE EXTENDING YOKE MEMBER ATTACHED TO THE INNER END OF SAID LATCH BOLT WITHIN SAID CASE; A PAIR OF GUIDE BUSHINGS FIXED TO SAID YOKE MEMBER, IN LATERALLY SPACED-APART POSITIONS RELATIVE TO ONE ANOTHER, ONE EACH OF SAID GUIDE BUSHINGS BEING POSITIONED ADJACENT EACH OPPOSITE END OF SAID YOKE MEMBER AND BEING SLIDABLY SUPPORTED UPON SAID GUIDE MEMBERS, WHEREBY SAID YOKE MEMBER AND SAID LATCH BOLT ARE GUIDELY SUPPORTED FOR SAID SLIDING MOVEMENT PARALLEL WITH SAID GUIDE MEMBERS BETWEEN SAID EXTENDED AND RETRACTED POSITIONS; A DRIVE LINK ATTACHED TO SAID YOKE MEMBER FOR MOVEMENT THEREWITH PARALLEL TO SAID GUIDE MEMBER; A SHAFT MOUNTED IN SAID CASE FOR ROTATION ABOUT AN AXIS TRANSVERSE TO THE AXIS OF SAID GUIDE MEMBERS; A CRANK MEMBER CARRIED ON SAID SHAFT WITHIN SAID CASE FOR ANGULAR ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT BY SAID SHAFT IN A PLANE PARALLEL WITH THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID GUIDE MEMBERS; AND A PIVOT CONNECTION BETWEEN AN OUTER PORTION OF SAID CRANK MEMBER AND SAID DRIVE LINK, WHEREBY ANGULAR ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT OF SAID SHAFT BETWEEN ANGULAR LIMITS IMPARTS CORRESPONGING MOVEMENT TO SAID LATCH BOLT BETWEEN SAID EXTENDED AND RETRACTED POSITIONS. 